Reasons Why Ani’s Character Failed

tv shows set in the 90s

i don’t think ppl talk about these shows enough! (or at all)

TOP 10 TV SHOWS I watched in 2021

I’m like two months late with this wrap-up but here we go!

1.     Genera+ion (2021) on HBO MAX

it’s about a group of gen z kids exploring their identity and finding family amongst friends.

my favorite show ever! “genera+ion” is the kind of story i dreamed of for years but never expected to actually get. 

“genera+ion” went there and did that. multiple poc and queer characters! the different povs storytelling! the found family trope! teenagers talking and looking like teenagers! it’s not overdramatized, there’s no unnecessary trauma dumping, and no sexualizing teenagers. it is refreshing, relatable, and authentic. this is the best show recipe for me.

it was unfairly canceled by hbo max, but I believe it still works as a stand alone story and is worth checking out.  

2.     Daybreak (2019) on NETFLIX

it’s a post-apocalyptic reality where all adults had turned into zombies and the teenagers are left to fend for themselves. the main character sets on a quest to find his girlfriend with the help of his sidekicks, while trying to avoid getting eaten.

it’s a shame I overlooked this show when it first came out because it turned out to be a perfect fit for me. I’m usually not a fan of dystopian stories BUT this show has my favorite type of humor and way of storytelling. I’m talking breaking the fourth wall, insertion of animated scenes, absurdity and chaos all around.

I must admit, the main character wasn’t that compelling to me (perhaps that’s the reason why I didn’t pick up the show when it was premiering). same goes for his love interest. although I did like the unmasking of the manic pixie dream girl archetype. [slight spoilers] for most of the show the audience sees Sam and their relationship only from Josh’s perspective. but Josh turns out to be an unreliable narrator, when Sam becomes an actual person instead of the idiolized version created in josh’s head. I don’t think we get to see shows exposing their main male characters as “the nice guy” very often, so that’s the part of their story arc that I liked. [spoilers over]

for the most part I was much more invested in the secondary characters (wesley, turbo, kj, eli & mona lisa are my favorite). and I think the cast really is an ensemble, even though there’s a designated main character. other characters also get to exist on their own and even take over the narration.  

i also much preferred the love story ivolving secondary characters. it came as a huge plot-twist surprise, and embodied some of my favorite tropes.

I watched this show twice and it goes on my all time favorites list for sure, along with genera+ion.

3.     I know what you did last summer (2021) on AMAZON PRIME

if you’ve seen the 1997 cult classic you already know the premise. a group of friends cover up a murder, and a year later start getting threats from an anonymous who claims to “know what they did last summer”. however, apart from the familiar concept, the show is quite different from the movie, with a new setting and new characters.

most reviews i’ve seen of this show were negative, but I LOVED IT. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say that the plot twists, and all the clues, and foreshadowings worked for me, and the finale gave me everything I wanted. it was so twisted and toxic and didn’t shy away from it, but it was also funny and entertaining. plus, I’m obsessed with the sapphic love storyline and the characters involved in it (almost as obsessed as they’re with each other but I’m not that unhealthy).

I feel like I can’t rationally explain why I love this show so much, maybe the writers and I are just on the same wavelength. I think if you’re gen z and you like messy characters (and thrillers, duh) you have a higher chance of enjoying this series.

4.     Young royals (2021) on NETFLIX

it’s a series about a swedish prince struggling to balance the matters of the heart with the responsibility of the crown, after his parents sent him off to a boarding school.

this show manages to stay relatable and grounded even though we’re following a literal royal in a prestigious school. it’s real, vulnerable, and cleverly written. and it’s a beautiful heartbreaking love story. it’s been compared to “skam” so if you’re a fan of it (and good television), this one’s for you.

5.     Betty (2020) on HBO MAX

a remake of the 2018 movie skate kitchen. it follows a diverse group of young women navigating the predominantly male oriented world of skateboarding.

it’s always great to see stories about strong female friendships, and this one also feels like a “found family” trope (which I love! and I mean, who doesn’t?). it feels very real as well, like we’re just watching people’s lives without them being overdramatized. it’s beautifully styled, and it makes you want to learn how to skate.

6.     Cruel summer (2021) on FREEFORM, HULU & AMAZON PRIME

the action simultaneously takes place over 3 summers during the 90s. after it-girl kate mysteriously goes missing, another girl takes her place as the popular one, along with her friends and boyfriend. the narrative switches between two girls, while we try to uncover who’s telling the truth about what happened.

i’ve seen people compare it to “pretty little liars”. it doesn’t give me the same feeling, but I guess it does have similar themes. like, a popular girl disappears, only this one isn’t the embodiment of evil, there’s a teacher-student relationship but here it’s not treated like something romantic or desirable, and the lying - which is a big part of both shows - but here the build-up actually pays off.

some of the acting and dialogue can be a bit awkward, but olivia holt’s performance makes up for all of it. she carried this show. this is by far her best acting performance (with “cloak&dagger” being second).

7.     The lying game (2011) on AMAZON PRIME 

Emma finds out she has an identical twin sister Sutton, from whom she was separated at birth. Sutton asks Emma to take her place for a couple days to go look for their birth mother. However, things get messy when Emma discovers that Sutton has more secrets than she led on.

this might seem like an outlier on this list, being made over a decade ago and all. however, this is the third show with an “identity theft” theme here, so it’s very on brand for me.

as gen z, the only nostalgia I get is for the 2010s and back then I used to watch a ton of teen dramas that nobody cared about: “the secret circle”, “twisted”, “switched at birth”, “make it or break it”, “10 things I hate about you”, etc. the only show that escaped my attention was “the lying game”. I decided to fix that.

I missed the vibe of those shows that I used to watch as a kid. if you’re like me, you will enjoy this. just don’t come in expecting great writing, thought-out storylines, or high-level production. it’s full of missed opportunities, unanswered questions, cartoonish villains, and characters that come, disappear, and are never brought up again. (if anything, this show is like “pretty little liars”!) but it also has entertaining love storyline(s), and a likeable cast of characters. not counting Sutton of course, she’s a disaster. I know this is based on a book, but I feel like the success of “the vampire diaries” inspired the show’s twin sisters. the actress looks like Nina Dobrev, and they went with the nice sister vs evil sister. only here the mean one is underdeveloped to the point of her being completely unsympathetic. she just becomes an annoying villain with no real motive.

beware! the show leaves off on a cliffhanger so don’t look forward to getting the mystery solved, just enjoy the ride of a 2011 teen messy drama.

8.     Shadow & bone (2021) on NETFLIX

based on the worldwide bestselling Grishaverse novels, “shadow and bone” follows an orphan Alina Starkov in a fantasy world full of magic, darkness and danger.

not being a fantasy fan, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this. I don’t have anything negative to say. it seems like a great book adaptation. the level of production that went into this is incredible, the world-building and the characters are captivating. i’m looking forward to season 2.

9.     Chucky (2021) on SYFY

the continuation of the “child’s play” movie franchise. a Chucky doll turns up at a suburban yard sale, and thus begins a series of horrifying murders in the town of Hackensack.

this show turned a bit too cheesy and far-fetched for my taste by the end. but i’ve been told that it kept the same tone from the movies (i’ve never seen one, this was my first introduction to chucky), so that must be good for the original fans. overall, I still enjoyed it. it’s gay, campy, and very disturbing. it’s also always great to see teenagers playing teenagers. safe to say, i’m never buying a vintage doll.

10.     The girl in the woods (2021) on PEACOCK

Tasha and Nolan meet a mysterious girl who escaped from a colony that guards a secret door in the woods.

so, i’m not into watching scary stuff, which you probably wouldn’t think looking at this list. but somehow, despite being very creepy, this show manages to feel warm and safe. most of it comes from the relationships between the three main characters. this series also has the best portrayal of a non-binary character that i’ve ever seen. they get to explore their identity and face the issues that come with it, without it coming off as a trauma story. also, they’re the best effing character. 

it’s a cute short thriller. bonus point, it has Sofia Bryant from “I am not okay with it”.

 phew! this was fun! and here’s top 4 worst shows I watched last year: 1. bridgerton 2. ginny and georgia 3. one of us is lying 4. gossip girl (2021)

my favorite films i watched for the first time in 2022 ♥️

besties with the same energy

riley & chester from “genera+ion”

vada & nick from “the fallout”

dara & caleb from “three months”

TOP 5 FAVORITE MOMENTS FROM 2022’S QUEER AS FOLK

1. Mingus’ performance to “sacrilege” by yeah yeah yeahs

my first association when i read the title of this episode was this song, so i was immediately captured when it actually started playing. mingus’ look during the performance was ethereal and mesmerizing. you could really feel the spiritual rebirth they and the audience were going through.

2. Brodie blowing up Daddius’ parents’ car to kimberly nichole’s cover of “house of the rising sun”

nothing more cathartic than getting revenge on your best friend’s homophobic parents. brodie might be impulsive but it’s admirable how much he cares and fights for his friends.

3. Brodie saving Mingus’ life in Babylon

the most memorable shot during the babylon attack, which the show flashed back to a couple of times, was brodie body-slamming mingus after he sees the terrifying look on their face and realizes what’s happening.

4. Brodie and Ruthie’s kiss in the rain

okay, so i’m not saying i ship it. but their relationship plays as the main love story of the show.

sure, at first we don’t get anything but a “platonic besties” vibe from them. yet, even in the beginning it feels like in ruthie’s relationship with shar there’s always another person aka brodie. later when we find out brodie and ruthie were each other’s first love it all starts to make sense. brodie had to stuff his feelings for ruthie after she came out to him as trans, but he never really got over them.

i wonder what direction their relationship would go, were we to get a season 2. all obvious reasons tell me they wouldn’t last long, but who knows? sexuality is fluid.

5. Brenda’s coming out

this coming out is pure camp and i live for it. it was as unexpected as my love for her, and yet completely in character. julian and brodie’s reaction to “you get it from your mama” was priceless.

On my block S3 SPOILERS

I’ve seen people complain about the finale but I loved it. It felt so suitable to flash forward, I was so hoping for it to happen, otherwise the ending wouldn’t have been satisfying. After all friends promising not to lose touch, it was only fitting to see how that worked out.

It’s not a new concept to skip a few years in the story to show how a friend group fell apart. However, OMB did it well. The “future” felt realistic and we didn’t see too much of it, so that the interest for the next season would be high. That is good storytelling.

I hope they start off the next season two years later, and maybe show a few flashbacks. I assume something will bring the ex-friends together, and it’d be cool to see their new dynamic especially since they’re older.

Monse leaving Freeridge and moving on with new girlfriends was expected and isn’t necessarily bad as she’s also away from the streets now and sh*t that no teenager should go through. Although Monse was certainly the glue of the group which could be seen even in 1x01 (with Monse away Cesar left the group), so it’s natural for everyone to stop being friends without her.

I think Jamal was looking for a place where he could release all his energy that he used to spent on conspiracies, and maybe after looking death in the eye in S3, playing football didn’t seem so scary anymore. Apparently, he even turned out to be actually good at it just like his dad.

I was surprised, yet very pleased, to see Ruby and Jasmine going strong after two years. Thank you! That’s exactly what we need: healthy long-lasting relationships!

Oscar fulfilling his dream to have a family and leave the gang was probably the most wholesome ending. It was so satisfying to see him happy. And I hope he stays that way from now on. Please don’t hurt him.

At last, Cesar also had an expected conclusion to his journey. To put aside the sad reality of his life now (like it was easy before), if we solely judge from the entertainment value this choice is great, as we’ll get to see Cesar as a leader and hopefully more mature.

my favorite genre of cast photos

ELITE S3

SPOILER WARNING

Okay, was this season the best or am I so addicted to this show that every time it comes back I love it even more?

First and foremost. Polo deserved to rot in jail for the rest of his life, not to escape his agony by dying and get forgiveness from Guzmán. Just because he‘s dead he’s not any less of a murderer. Polo apologists can F off. You can like him as a character but do not excuse his actions. Marina’s murder was not an accident. Polo made a choice, and we saw how he wanted to hurt Ander the same way in S2. He could kill again... Well, at least now he won’t.

Now on to my favorite characters.

Rebeka continues to be the best. I’m glad she got more of a storyline this season. She’s definitely a character who you’d want to be best friends with. The scenes of her supporting Ander and coming out to him were beautiful. A lot of people - me included - wanted Rebe to be non-straight. When she admitted her feelings for Carla, I couldn’t believe we actually got the possibility of Rebeka and Carla ditching Samuel to be together. Sadly, I was right not to believe it. These «feelings» sank into oblivion just after they were revealed. We got no interaction (besides Rebe giving Carla drugs and apologizing about it), no longing looks, no development (even one-sided). Instead Rebeka was stuck in a forced romance with no chemistry, showcasing only jealousy over Samu towards Carla. As for Samu, he seemed to love Rebe as a friend, much like Marina loved him in S1. After all, Rebeka truly deserves someone who will reciprocate her feelings and a better crimeless life, which I really hope she will get in S4.

Samuel has done the impossible in S2 by becoming my favorite character. He used to embody “the good guy” trope which I hate, but he developed from this perfect-innocent-annoying character to a protagonist you can actually cheer for. Some people may argue that he’s still irritating and doesn’t deserve Carla. Nonetheless, I believe he balances off La Marquesa very well and I totally supported him on his quest for justice over two seasons.

Guzmán didn’t really shine that much in this season, yet he managed to returne into my top favorite characters. He still struggles to control his anger and grief, but he’s already more mature than he ever was, which is mostly visible in his behavior towards Nadia and Lucrecia.

Guzmán’s friendship with Samuel was the best this season, alongside Lú and Nadia’s, and I hope to see more of it next season.

Carla. The character I didn’t care about in S1, didn’t trust in S2, and finally loved in S3. Her story this season was heartbreaking, and getting more of her family dynamic helped to understand how her mind works. She’s used to being a kid acting as an adult, manipulating, simulating feelings, taking care of business and people who threaten her family’s image, because that’s the only model of behavior she’s ever had. That’s why her obtaining freedom from drugs, parents, and social expectations at the end couldn’t be more satisfying.

Lú and Ander. The only characters that made me cry this season. Two characters I like a lot, each with one flaw that I can’t forgive. Lú’s one being incest which is a choice not a part of love-is-love formula, and I hate the show for romanticizing it. And Ander’s - being friends with Polo.

Lú has always been an interesting character for me (resembling Blair from Gossip Girl). She obviously hid all her insecurities under a bitchy exterior, and I wanted to see more of her emotional side, which was given in her beautiful friendship with Nadia. Lú and Nadia are two sides of the same coin, and them becoming frenemies was long-overdue. Them supporting, comforting each other, and going to study abroad together was a dream come true. (Their friendship reminds me of Santana&Rachel from Glee, let’s hope this one’ll work out).

Lú was expected to be a hbic when the show came out, but eventually that slot was taken by Carla. Lú wasn’t really involved in the main plot until this season. That’s why her killing Polo was unexpected to say the least. Towards the end of the last episode I thought that whoever killed Polo must be someone who you wouldn’t even think of. Sweeping aside the obvious Guzmán and Samuel, I determined Ander, Nadia and Lú as my suspects. Still when Lú went after Polo with the bottle until the very killing I thought it was a decoy. Lú becoming a murderer was in fact an accident even though she probably went in with an intention to hurt him. Her feeling remorse was truly heartbreaking, and I hope we’ll see more of the aftermath this all had on her.

In such a murderous show it‘s valuable to have a different perspective on life and death through Ander’s character. His journey this season made the concepts of justice and resentment shine in another light.

The part of Ander’s story that I didn’t like was his romantic relationship and it wasn’t even his fault. That’s why we’re moving on to the character who disappointed me the most.

THE DOWNFALL OF OMAR

By this point Omar has collected so many flaws that I hate his character.

Let’s start from S2 when him being friendly with Lú was cute and all but also meant betraying his sister, who shall I mention has never done any harm to him, only helped and supported him.

Then he certainly crossed the line this season by cheating on Ander with Nadia’s boyfriend. Continuously. Nadia was quick to forgive Omar which was so infuriating. Not only did he not prevent his sister from falling for a liar, but he also kept sleeping with him. Furthermore, when confronted about it instead of apologizing he turned the situation on Nadia.

Needless to say, Ander did not deserve to be cheated on AND being lied to. Omar still hasn’t told he cheated. When Ander pushed him away by lying that he cheated, Omar seemed more concerned with where would he live now rather than the break up itself.

At this point Omar and Ander didn’t seem like a good match, and I was begging for them to break up. How happy was I when they actually did. It felt necessary and realistic for this relationship to come to an end. Unfortunately, I was early to celebrate. They had to go and ruin this perfect ending. I am mad Omar went back to Ander. I can’t believe this relationship will be dragged on for another season. I hate the fact that Omar will go to Las Encinas now. May I ask how could Omar even get a scholarship with his low grades???

There’re a few relationships left to discuss.

There was a lot of everybody-sleeping-with-everybody going on, but not much deep connections.

Guznadia and Carmuel didn’t get a lot of screen time, even though the few scenes they got were sweet.

Carla’s enslavement of a relationship was truly toxic and appalling.

Malick and Nadia’s relationship was hard to get on board with since the beginning and of course disappointing by the end in both the ship and Malick’s character.

Malick and Yeray were not captivating nor charming. Overall, S3 failed to introduce new characters especially compared to S2.

It was cool to see that the show didn’t abandon polyamory representation. Valerio, Polo and Cayetana getting together was unpredictable. I expected Valerio to get with Rebeka, and even her mom, but those rendezvous blew over like they never happened, and left Valerio to the psychos.

Do you know what would be even cooler than this threesome? A thruple consisting of actually likable characters. When will we get Rebeka with Samu and Carla? That would be quality representation.

With all my impressions laid out I have to say that this show is amazing. It keeps the audience in suspense with an intriguing plot while also developing numerous multidimensional characters and tackling serious societal issues and philosophical questions.

it's not your fault, they're identical.. look at them.